Optional Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope
- Mary Jo Barr
- Oct 22, 2024
- 3 min read
Reading 1 Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, "Your God is King! "Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the LORD restoring Zion. Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the LORD comforts his people, he redeems Jerusalem. The LORD has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; All the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.
Gospel John 21:15-17
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? "Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to Simon Peter a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. "Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep."
REFLECTION
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, "Your God is King! (Isaiah 52:7)
St. John Paul II's message gave hope to the world. He delivered this message personally to 129 countries around the world. He was known as "the people's pope." God equipped him to spread the Good News. John Paul II knew 12 languages and used 9 during the time he was Pope. He made 104 trips during his papacy and to places never visited by a Pope before. He accomplished this during his 27 years as the 264th Pope of the Holy Catholic Church.
He earned a doctorate in Rome at the Angelicum and was a professor of moral theology and ethics at the Krakow seminary. He inspired many by his words of peace, love, and solidarity while he was Archbishop of Krakow. He showed the people that united they could defeat communism in Poland. He continued to support the Polish people as Pope and visited Poland nine times to encourage them.
During his papacy, between the times Pope John Paul II traveled, he wrote many encyclicals, exhortations, constitutions, and letters to guide the Catholic flock. He began a movement for the youth, World Youth Day. He knew their struggle and that they needed encouragement and guidance to form their moral conscience and discern their vocation.
After the resurrection, Jesus commissioned St. Peter, "Do you love me?" ..."Feed my sheep."(John 21:17) St. Pope John Paul II lived that command as a successor of St. Peter.
Let us pray for the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to follow Jesus' command, "Feed my sheep!" Let us pray that the Holy Father has the courage of his predecessors St. Peter and St. John Paul II to "Be Not Afraid" and teach the truths of Jesus Christ to His sheep.
Join us in praying our PAPA Prayer for Priests.
REFERENCES
Witness of Hope The Biography of Pope John Paul II, by John Weigel
Comments